Ephesians 4:25

Ad hominem (Latin for “to the man”)

What is it?

Attacking an opponent’s character or his motives for believing something instead of disproving his argument.

Ad hominem arguments fail because they avoid the issue.

Daniel 2:47 – Nebuchadnezzar was not a good person, but here he made a true statement.

Spiritual importance

If one advocates some point, but also has a character problem, that reflects poorly on their character but does not necessarily mean their point was invalid. This is certainly not to say that character doesn’t matter – it does. Romans 2:1-3, 17-24; I Timothy 4:12, 16; Matthew 23:2-3

It’s easy to resort to ad hominem attacks. If we don’t know how to answer some else’s line of reasoning, we may get emotional and strike back at the other person themselves, which is irrelevant and immature. Acts 6:8-14

In past decades, when brethren were debating the issue of whether orphan homes ought to be supported by individuals or by church treasuries (James 1:27), many personal attacks were launched.

One could listen to those kinds of accusations all day and still not know what the Bible said about the issue.

“Christianity isn’t true. You just believe in Christianity because you were brought up in a Christian home.” This avoids the question of whether or not Christianity is true.

“Those people are just saying that because they’re religious.”

“Why should we believe Solomon when he tells us to be satisfied with ‘the wife of your youth’ (Proverbs 5:18)? He wasn’t.”

Attacks against Jesus:

Matthew 11:18-19

Mark 6:3

Compare John 1:46 – but at least Nathanael was willing to investigate.

Philippians 1:15-26

Philippians 1:19

Paul did not shy away from requesting prayers on his own behalf. Romans 15:30-32; Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:3-4; I Thessalonians 5:25; II Thessalonians 3:1-2; Philemon 1:22

“Spirit” here is the spiritual mindset and should not be capitalized. Ephesians 3:14; II Timothy 2:7

Philippians 1:20 – See II Corinthians 4:9; I Corinthians 6:20

Philippians 1:22 – God approves of fruitful labor. II Timothy 2:15

Self-control: restraint or discipline of self.

Acts 24:25

Galatians 5:23, 25-26 – Self-control is one of the fruits of the spirit.

Matthew 4:3-7

I John 2:15-16

Self-control is more than abstinence.

Self-control

It is necessary for any worthwhile accomplishment.

I Corinthians 9:24-27; Galatians 5:17

I Corinthians 10:13

Lack of self-control will cause many to be lost.

Proverbs 15:2

Is that great quality that enables to walk IN the world and yet keep self unspotted FROM the world.

A Christian will give diligence to exercise self-control.

Introduction

Philippians 2:14-16

Christians try to live differently than others in the world.

Some people will not like the way we live.

My righteousness judges others.

Hebrews 11:7 – Noah condemned the world by living righteously and building the ark.

Matthew 12:41-42 – The Ninevites repented, thus they would condemn others at the judgment.

Romans 12:20 – Doing good to those who wrong you convicts and embarrasses them.

No one should approve of sin just to keep from embarrassing others.

If people are determined to sin, you can’t stop them.

Romans 1:21-32

Romans 6:1

We have all sinned, but we strive not to.

I cannot participate in or approve of sin.

Romans 1:32 – Committing and approving sin are both wrong.

Romans 6:23

Proverbs 8:13

Romans 12:2, 9 – We must train ourselves to abhor evil.

II Corinthians 6:14

Interact with others like Jesus did.

Circular reasoning (begging the question), continued:

Spiritual importance, continued:

Matthew 26:63-66 – The Pharisees assumed Jesus was not the Son of God, therefore when He claimed to be deity, they assumed He was blaspheming.

Evolutionists often use the similarity of DNA in different life forms as proof that those life forms came from a single ancestor.

Circular reasoning is used to date rock layers and fossils. The evolutionary timeline is assumed to be true, dates are assigned to fossils, and thus to rocks in which those fossils are found.

The question-begging epithet (biased words)

What is it?

“… the arguer uses biased (often emotional) language to persuade people rather than using logic.”

Example: “That is the dumbest argument I’ve ever heard.”

Spiritual importance

“Let’s open up our Bibles and discover whether or not this ridiculous doctrine is true.”

Examples regarding creation and evolution:

“Our department is becoming infested with creationists.”

“Creationists believe that the universe is young, but the best scientists tell us that it is billions of years old.”

Serene Jones: “Crucifixion is not something that God is orchestrating from upstairs. The pervasive idea of an abusive God-father who sends His own kid to the cross so God could forgive people is nuts.”

Four things Paul prays for:

A love that abounds more and more

Knowledge: Romans 10:1; II Peter 1:5; 3:18

Discernment: Hebrews 5:14; I Kings 3:9

Being able to approve the things that are excellent

I Thessalonians 5:21; Romans 12:9

We need to test all things to see if they are worthy of our approval. This does not mean trying everything ourselves. We should learn from others.

We may sometimes have to decide between two good things.

Being sincere and blameless

Being filled with the fruit of righteousness

Galatians 5:22; I John 3:7; John 15:8; Hebrews 12:11

John 15:5 – There are consequences of not bearing fruit. II Peter 1:5-8

Titus 2:14

Introduction

Two people who took the initiative:

David (I Samuel 17)

Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-6)

Nehemiah 1:1-4 – Nehemiah fasts and prays.

Nehemiah 2:5, 15-18 – Nehemiah prepares to work.

Nehemiah 4:4-6, 14, 17 – Nehemiah lead the people to work.

Nehemiah 6:15 – The wall is completed in 52 days.

How to take the initiative:

We need to care.

Romans 5:8 – God took the initiative in sending Jesus!

Acts 17:15-17 – Paul cared for the people enough to begin talking to them.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) – “Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.”

It helps to get others involved.

We must find the need and act!

Luke 10:27-37 – The parable of the good Samaritan. We should be looking for ways to be a neighbor to others!

Why not me?

False analogy (continued)

Romans 7:2-3 – Marriage, divorce, and remarriage

“Take two people and bind them with a rope. If you cut the rope, how many people are free? Both. So, if one is free, the other is free. Any divorced person can remarry.”

The rope is a false analogy. It does not accurately reflect the way God’s law works.

Luke 15:18 – The parable of the prodigal son, or the older son.

“If my grown child falls away, I should not seek him out, appeal to him, study with him, etc. It’s his job to get up and come to me.”

The parable is about the response of the older son when his brother returned, not about how to reach out to a sinner.

Compare Galatians 6:1; Matthew 15:18; James 5:19. We should try to restore lost brethren.

Circular reasoning (begging the question)

What is it?

Spiritual importance

Circular reasoning does not prove anything. We should be careful not to resort to this in spiritual studies and discussions.

Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus did not use circular reasoning to prove that He had authority to forgive sins. Instead, He offered actual proof by healing a paralytic man.

“That doctrine can’t be true because that’s what _______ teach.” (Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Calvinists, etc.)

“The Bible cannot be true because it contains miracles, and miracles violate the laws of nature!”

“The Bible cannot be true because it teaches that the earth is only thousands of years old; whereas, we know the earth is billions of years old.”

“Creation cannot be true because you would have to ignore all that scientific evidence.”